Work presenting means for shoe machines



Dec. 3, 1940. c. G. BROSTROM 2,223,440

WORK PRESENTING MEANS FOR SHOE MACHINE Filed July 28, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 3,- 1940.- c. e. BROSTROM -Z 3, 0

v WORK PRESENTING MEANS FOR SHOE MACHINE Filed July 28, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 3, 1940 WORK PRESENTING MEANS FOR snonMACHINES Charles G. Brostrom, Salem, Mass, assignor to UnitedShoeMachinery Corporation, Borough of Flemington, N. J., a corporationof New Jersey Application July 28, 1939, Serial No. 287,036

17 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating upon shoes and moreparticularly to work presenting means for. certain classes of shoemachines wherein the shoe is subjected to considerable vibration duringthe work treating op eration. While the invention is illustrated asembodied. in' a pounding machine adapted to.

proper manipulation of the. shoe by the operator in presenting differentportions thereof for treatment by the tool. Another object of theinvencmoperates with the rest of the work presenting means a workpositioning member which not only co-operates with the rest of. the workpresenting means in presenting a shoe for treatment by a tool butservesalso to guard portions of the shoe not tobe treated at a given time. Afurther object of the invention is to provide a fluid-operatedmeans foreffecting the desired movements of the shoe presenting means, preferablyunder control of a treadle which merely initiates operation of thefluid-operated means, thereby minimizing the work of the operator andleaving his hands free for the manipulation of the shoe.

It is an important feature of the invention that a shoe-backing member,while being movable. by treadle controlled means between work receivingand work presenting positions with respect to a work-treating tool, isyieldingly held inoperative position by spring means which absorbs to asubstantial extent vibration in the shoe caused by the work-treatingtool, which spring means is also sufiiciently yielding to permitmanipulation of the shoe by the operator in presenting differentportions thereof for treatment by the tool. Preferably, a workpositioning memii ber co-operates with the shoe-backing member inpresenting the shoe to the tool and serves also to guard from the toolsome portion of the shoe not undergoing treatment at a given time,

In a preferred construction, there is provided a fluid-operated deviceto move the shoe-backing member alternately between work receiving andwork presenting positions with respect to the tool. Since the operatorsimply initiates the operation of the fluid-operated device, his labor.is reduced to a. minimum. From: another viewpoint, the fluid-operateddevice energizes the spring by which the work-backing member isyieldingly urged into work-presenting position with respect to thework-treating tool.

Preferably, and as shown, the. shoe-backing member or pad is movablyconnected to a carrier in such manner that the padmay tilt. in an up-'and-down direction and in a side-toside' direction about a substantiallyhorizontal axis and also from side to side about a substantiallyvertical axis. Because of this mounting of the pad it may tip in anup-and-down direction about. an axis extending lengthwise of the lastedshoe to present portions of the shoebottomproperly to the tool and alsoin a side-to-side direction about a substantially horizontal axis tofacilitate tilting of the forepart. of the shoe in an up-anddowndirection to present different portions of such forepart to the tool,this operation being facilitated by having the pad carrier slidable inan up-and-down' direction in its support, In order that. the lasted'shoemay be carried transversely of the moving; tool, the support for the padcarrier is pivoted for movement from side; to side, the pad itself beingswivelly mounted in the carrier for turning movements about asubstantially vertical axis so thatall portions of the: convexlycurvedbottom of the forepart of the shoe: may be presented. to the toolduring. movement of the shoe transversely of the tool. It will bereadily understood that this special mounting of a pad upon a supportspring-pressed in a direction toward the tool may operate satisfactorilyin an organization which does not include power means for moving the padbetween work receiving and work presenting positions with respect tothetool.

With these and other features andadvantages in view, the invention willnow be described in detail and then pointed out more particularly in theappended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a pounding machineillustrating one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of a workbacking pad and its supports showingadjustments possible to the-pad during operations on a shoe or shoepart;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, of parts shown in Fig. 1 looking.from theleft in said figure; and

Fig. 4 is a detail View of a work rest shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the illustrated machine, which is, specially designed to support alasted shoe during channel.

flap laying, side lasting and, particularly, pounding operations uponbottom portions thereof, there is shown a shoe bottom pounding tool 8 inthe form of an endless belt Ill provided with spaced work contactingmembers l2. For a more complete disclosure of the belt I and members l2,reference should be had to United States Letters'Patent No. 2,087,241,granted July 20, 1937, upon application of D. W. Bunker. shown the saidbelt H) is supported in extended condition by a small wheel [4- and alarge driven j treating tool are transmitted to the hands and body ofthe operator. These conditions may render theoperation of poundingmachines too .laborious for some workers who might otherwise be suitedfor the job. Accordingly, I have provided a work presenting meansdesigned to absorb to a substantial extent the vibrations of the shoeor, other work piece while, at the same time, permitting freemanipulation of the shoe by the operator in presenting differentportions thereof to the work treating tool.

' As shown, the work presenting'means comprises a stationary work rest26 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) carried fixedly but adjustably on an arm 22extending upwardly from a bracket 24 rigid with the machine frame. Asshown, the work rest 23 is slidably mounted on a guideway on the upperend of the arm 22 and is adjusted and held in adjusted position by ascrew threaded member 26 (Fig. 1). Preferably and as shown, the workrest 20 is provided with an upwardly extending work guide and guard 23.The guide or gage 28 positions the work, such as a lasted shoe 3B, fortreatment by the pounding elements [2, the guide 28 also serving toguard those portions of the shoe bottom which should not be contacted bythe pounding elements.

For holding the shoe 33 in work treating position there is provided awork-backing padded member or pad 32 having a concavely curved surface(Figs. 1 and 2) to engage convexly curved parts of the lasted shoewhereby bottom parts of such lasted shoe may be pressed against thetool. Through suitable connections hereinafter described, the paddedmember 32 is carried by a rocking member 34 (Figs. 1 and 3) rotatablymounted on a stub shaft 35 fixedly carried by a block 36 which is inturn rotatably mounted on a shaft 31 rotatably carried in horizontallyarranged-bearings 38, 43 rigid with the bracket 24. For yieldinglyconnecting the block 36 and the member 34 with the shaft 37 there isprovided a spring 42 (Fig. 3) having one of its ends secured to theblock 3i? while its other end is secured to a perforated collar 44pinned to the shaft 31, the collar 44 having a plurality of holes(Fig. 1) in one of which the end of the spring 42 is selectively placed.It will be readily understood that, when the shaft 37 is rotated in aclockwise direction (Fig. 1), the padded member 32 will press a shoe 3!)against the pounding device and that the padded member 32 may yield awayfrom the pounding device because of the spring connection comprising thespring 42.

Preferably, and as shown, power means under the control of the operatoris provided for moving the padded member 32 to its Work presentingposition, the said means being also operative to return the paddedmember 32 to its open position. As shown, said power means comprisespneumatically operated means which, in the illustrated construction,includes a piston cylinder 50 (Figs. 1 and 3) in which is slidablyreceived a piston 5| having a piston rod 5:! which passes through theupper head 56 of the cylinder 53 and is pivotally connected at 53 to aforked member 60 which is pinned to one end of the shaft 31. At itsother end the piston cylinder 5!! is pivotally mounted at (32 upon thestationary bracket 24. As shown most clearly-in Fig. 3 of the drawings,a port 64 opens into the upper end of the piston cylinder 50 whileanother port 66 opens into the lower end of the same piston cylinder, atflexible pipe 68 being so connected to the piston cylinder 50 as tocommunicate with said port 64 while port 66 communicates with anotherflexible pipe 16. It will be readily understood that the piston 5| willbe moved in an upward direction when air under pressure enters throughthe port 66 from the pipe l0, while the same piston 53 will be moved ina downward direction when air under pressure enters the port 64 from thepipe 68. To furnish air under pressure to the pipes 68 and 70 there isprovided a valve (not shown) in a valve chamber 12, the arrangementbeing such that air under pressure entering the valve chamber 12 by wayof a pipe 14 may be directed to the pipe BBupon depressing a treadle 16(while air under the piston 5| escapes by pipe (6) and that alternatelythe pipe it will be supplied with high pressure air through operation ofthesame valve by another depression of the treadle Hi. In the lattercase. while air under pressure is entering the cylinder 50 through pipell], air above the piston 5| is escaping through pipe 68. In otherwords, when the padded member or work rest 32 is in open position, thatis, away from the pounding element 8, depression of the treadle 76 willoperate the valve in the chamber 72 to send air under pressure throughthe pipe I!) and through the port 66 into the cylinder 50 with theresult that the piston 5| is forced upwardly to rock the shaft 31 andtherefore the padded member 32 toward the pounding element 8. As soon asthe treadle has been depressed to'accomplish this result, it is at oncereleased since the air under pressure will hold the padded member 32 inwork presenting position until the treadle 16 is again depressed. Whenthis occurs the port 66 permits the escape of air from the lower part ofthecylinder 50 while air under pressure is entering the upper part ofthe cylinder 50 through the port 34. It is clear, therefore, that thepiston 5! is movedupwardly upon depression of the treadle 16 to effectmovement of the pad 32 in' the direction in which it presses a shoeagainst the pounding tool, whereas a second depression of the treadle 76results in moving the piston 5| downwardly to effect a rocking movementof the shaft 31 in a direction to move the pad 32 away from the poundingtool where it remains until the treadle 16 is again depressed. It willfurther be clear that movement of the shaft 31 in the direction ofeffecting movement of the pad 32 toward the pounding tool does noteffect positive movement of the pad in the said direction but servesrather to energize the spring 42. In other words, the pad 32 is movedyieldingly into operative position, since'the member 34 is yieldinglyconnected to the shaft 3'! through the spring 42. I n n In order thatthe operator may freely manipulate the lasted shoe 30 while it is beingpressed against the pounding tool 8 by the pad 32, the

latter is mounted for substantially universal movement. Upon inspectionof Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the pad 32 ispivoted for a relatively limited up-and-down rocking movement about asubstantially horizontal pin 80, limits being provided to this rockingmovement by converging surfaces 82 on the pad (Fig. 2) which contactselectively with the adjacent surface of a plate 84 at each end of itsrocking movement. Since the pin 80 is carried bya larger pin 86rotatable in a bearing block 88, it is-clear that the pad 32 may alsorock from side to side about a nearly horizontal axis furnished by thepin. 86, means being preferably provided to return the padded member 32to the position shown in Figs. 1 and the said means comprising a spring90 secured at one end to a stud 92 carried by the pad 32 and at itsother end to a second stud 94 carried by a slidable carrier member 93,both studs being located in a vertical plane passing centrally throughthe pad from front to rear. Upon inspection of Figs. 1 and2,'it will beseen that the slidable carrier 36 permits sliding movement of the pad 32in a vertical -direction thereby accommodating the pad to shoes ofdifferent sizes and permitting extreme up-and-down tipping movements ofthe toe end of the lasted shoe. To facilitate-adjustment of the pad todifferent parts of the shoe and to shoes of different contours, theblock 88 is also movable, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, it being fixedlycarried at the upper end of a pin 93 swiveled in the carrier 96. Inorder to permit free movement of the shoe 3!) in a direction crosswiseof the belt H], the pad 32 and its carrier 96 may be rocked about thestub shaft 35 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). A spring 98 (Fig. secured at one ofits ends to a stud I fixed to block 33 and at its other end to a studI02 fixed to the bottom surface of the rocking member 34 tends to keepthe pad 32 and its carrier 96 upright or vertical as distinguished froma'sidewise position on the stub shaft 35. Because of the describedmounting of the pad 32, it may yield about the substantially horizontalpin 80 in a tipping movement in a vertical plane so as to fit itsconcavity to the rounded surface of the forepart ofthe shoe and topermit proper presentation of the shoe bottom to the tool. The pad 32moves also about the substantially horizontal pin 85 in a rockingmovement from side to side in order to accommodate up-and-down tippingmovements of the toe end of the shoe. Further, the said pad may swivelabout the vertical pin 98 andthen be moved bodily in a directioncrosswise of the tool 8 to secure treatment of all parts of the convexlycurved bottom of the forepart of the shoe. Hence, when a lasted shoe 33is being pressed against the pounding tool 8, it may be rocked to liftor to depress the toe end of the shoe, largely because of the pivotfurnished by pin 86. Further the shoe may be rocked about an axisextending lengthwise of the shoe because of mounting of the pad on thepin 83. Again, the lasted shoe may rock about a vertical axis (the pin98) to press a selected portion on the convexly shaped shoe bottom ofthe lasted shoe more firmly against the pounding tool, the lasted shoein this case turning about a vertical axis passing transversely of thelast. In addition to all this, the pad 32 may be moved upwardly, throughupward movement of the carrier 96, to accommodate a tippingmovement ofthe lasted shoe which carries the toe portion thereof higher than the"plane of the upper surscribed permits movements of the shoe manually bytheoperattor, suitable to secure treatment of all parts of the forepartof the shoe during operations thereon, whether these operations bepounding, channel flap laying or side lasting.

In operating the illustrated machine, a lasted shoe is placed upon thework rest 20 and in engagement with the guide or gage member 28 as apreliminary'to depression of the treadle 16. Upon depressing thetreadle, the pad 32 is moved into engagement with the convexly shapedportion of the forepart of the shoe to press a part, of the shoe bottomagainst the tool 8. Because of the spring 42 interposed between theshaft 3? and the pad 32 the latter is yieldingly held against the lastedshoe so that the latter may be readily manipulated to present differentportions of the forepart shoe bottom for treatment by the pounding tool.To release the shoe, the operator again depresses the treadle l3whereupon the pad 32 moves to the left in Fig. 1 and remains in thatposition until the treadle is again depressed.

To operate upon the shank part of the shoe bottom, the lasted shoe ispresented to the work rubbing elements l2 where they are backed by thewheel M of relatively small radius, as indicated in dash lines inFig. 1. For this operation, no support but the hands of the operator isneeded.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of of a lasted shoe and movably mounted in a positionto back the shoe undergoing treatment by said tool, means operable tomove the'shoebacking member toward the tool, and spring means interposedbetween said means and the shoe-backing member and so tensioned as topermit the latter to yield, under pressure by the operator, away fromthe tool while the shoe is undergoing treatment, thereby facilitatingthe manipulation of the shoe by the operator.

2. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work-treating tool, a shoepositioning member stationary with respect to the tool, a member toengage the upper of a lasted shoe and movably mounted in a position toback the shoe undergoing treatment by the tool, means to move theshoe-backing member toward the tool, said means then becomingstationary, and a spring interposed between said means and theshoe-backing member to press the shoe against the shoe positioningmember thereby to present the shoe to the tool for treatment, saidspring yielding, under pressure by the operator, to permit theshoebaoking member to move in a direction away from said tool duringtreatment of the shoe, thereby facilitating manipulation of the shoe bythe operator to present diiferent parts thereof to said tool.

3. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work-treating tool, a paddedmember having a concave surface to engage the upper of a lasted shoe andpivotally mounted in .a position to back the shoe undergoing treatmentby said tool, manually controlled means to rock the padded member towardthe tool, and a spring between the padded member and the manuallycontrolled rocking means therefor to absorb vibration. in the shoecaused by the work-treating tool, said spring serving also to permit thepadded member to yield away from the tool under pressure by the operatorwhile the shoe is undergoing treatment, thereby facilitatingmanipulation of the shoe by the operator to present various portions ofthe shoe for treatment by the tool.

4. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work-treating tool, a shaftmounted in the frame of the machine for rocking movement, a work-'backing member movably'mounted on said shaft in a position to back ashoe undergoing treatment by said tool, manually controlled means torock the shaft and the work-backing member toward the, tool, and aspring connection between the shaft and the work-backing'member topermit the latter to yield away from the tool while the shoe isundergoing treatment.

5. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a

work-treating tool, a shaft mounted in the frame of the machine forrocking movement, a bracket supporting said shaft, a shoe positioningmember rigid with the bracket, a shoe-backing member loosely mounted onthe shaft, a spring between the shoe-backing member and the shafttending to press the shoe against the tool and against theshoe-positioning member, and manually controlled means to rock the shaftand. the shoe-backing member toward the tool to present the shoe to thelatter for treatment, said shoebacking member being arranged to yieldagainst thepressure of said spring during treatment of the shoe by saidtool. 6, In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work-treating tool, ashoe positioning member stationary with respect to said tool, ashoe-backing member mounted for movement toward and from said tool andpositioning member, a spring arranged to back the'shoe-backing member sothat the latter may yield away from the tool, and fluid-operated meansunder the control of the operator to energize said spring Wherebytheshoe-backing member presses the shoe yieldingly against the tool.

7. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work-treating tool, a shoepositioning member stationary with respect to the tool, a pad having aconcave surface to engage the upper of a lasted shoe and movable topress the shoe against the tool, the pad and the shoe positioning memberco-operating to present the shoe'to the tool, spring means to hold thepad yieldingly in the direction of the tool, and fluid-operated meansunder control of the operator to move the pad between operative andinoperative positions,

8. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a rotary work-treating tool, ashoe positioning member stationary with respect to said tool and havinga part to protect a part of the shoe from said tool, a shoe-backingmember pivotally mounted for movement toward and from said tool andpositioning member, and fluid-operated means under the control of theoperator to move the shoe-backing member to press the shoe against thetool and against the shoe positioning member.

9. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a rotary work-treating tool, ashoe positioning member stationary with respect to the tool, a padoperative to engage the upper of a lasted shoe and to pressjthe shoeagainst the tool, the pad and the shoe positioning member co-operatingto present the shoe to the tool, spring means to hold the pad*yieldingly in the direction of the tool, and fluid-operated means undercontrol of the operator to move the pad between operative andinoperative positions and to energize said spring whereby the pad isyieldingly pressed toward said tool.

10. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a rotary tool for, treatingthe shoe, a shaft arranged in parallelism with the axis of the rotarytool, a padded member toengage the upper of a lasted, shoe and'mountedon said shaft for movement toward said rotary tool to press a sole partof the shoe against the tool, a shoe positioning member stationary withrespect to said tool, said positioning member serving also to protect apart of the shoe from contact with the rotary tool, and fluid-operatedmeans for rocking the shaft and the padded member mounted thereon topress the shoe against the rotary tool and against the shoe positioningmember.

11. In a:machine'f0r operating upon shoes, a rotary tool for treatingthe shoe, a shaftarranged in parallelism with the axis of the rotarytool, a shoe-backing member mounted on said shaft for movement towardand from said rotary tool, a bracket having journals for said shaft, ashoe positioning member carried by said bracket to locate the shoe inproper relation to the rotary tool, a spring between the shoe-backingmember and the shaftoperative yieldingly to connect the shoe-backingmember to the shaft, whereby the shoe-backing member may yieldrelatively to the rotary tool, a fluid-operated device having a pivotalconnection with the shaft to rock the latter whereb-y'the spring isenergized and the shoe positioning. member is moved to press'a shoeyielding'ly against the rotary tool, the shoe-backing member beingsubsequently moved away from the tool upon rocking the shaft in thereverse direction, and a treadle operated means for controlling saidfluid-operated device.

12. me machine for operating upon shoes, a rotary tool for treating ashoe, a shoe-backing member pivotally mounted for movement toward'andfrom said rotary tool, a shoe positioning member stationary withrespect to the tool to locate the shoe in proper relation to said tool,a spring yieldingly to back the shoe-backing member, whereby theshoe-backing member may yield relatively to the rotary tool; afluid-operated device having" a piston operatively connected to saidshoe-backing member, said device having also a casing in which saidpiston may be reciprocated, said casing having also ports adjacentopposite ends thereof, and treadle operated means for controlling theintroduction of a pressure fluid alternately through said ports tooperate the piston alternately in opposite directions, whereby theshoe-backing'member will be moved between work receiving and workpresenting positions with respect to the rotary tool.

13. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a rotary tool for treatingthe shoe, a shaft arranged in parallelism with the axis of the rotarytool, a shoe-backing member mounted on said shaftfor movement toward andfrom said rotary tool, a bracket having journals for said shaft, ashoepositioning member carried by said bracket to locate the shoe inproper relation to the rotary' tool, a spring between the shoe-backingmember and the shaft operative yieldingly to connect the shoe-backingmember to the shaft, whereby the shoe-backing member may yieldrelatively to the rotary tool, a fluid-operated device having a pistonpivotally connected to said shaft, said device having also a casing inwhich said piston may be reciprocated, said casing having ports adjacentopposite ends thereof, and treadle operated means for controlling theintroduction of the pressure fluid alternately through said ports tooperate the piston in reverse directions whereby the shaft Will berocked to move the shoebacking member between work receiving (and workpresenting positions with respect to the rotary tool.

14. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a tool, a shoe-backing membermovable to press a shoe against the tool, a rocking member pivotally,

mounted to move the shoe-backing member toward and away from said tooland to hold it yieldingly toward said tool, a carrier for theshoebacking member slidably mounted for up-anddown movement in therocking member, and two pivot pins extending at right angles to eachother and operative to connect the shoe-backing member movably to theslidable carrier so that said backing member may tip in an up-and-downdirection and also in a side-to-side direction, whereby a lasted shoemay be tipped about one of said pins in directions toward and away fromthe tool about an axis extending in the direction of the length of thelasted shoe, the shoebacking member being also movable to tip theforepart of the lasted shoe in an up-and-down direction by reason of thesliding movement of the carrier in an up-and-down direction inconjunction with a tipping movement of the backing member about theother one of said pins.

15. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a

tool, a shoe-backing member movable to press a shoe against the tool, asupporting member mounted to move the shoe-backing-member toward andaway from said tool and to hold it yieldingly toward said tool, acarrier for the backing member slidably mounted for up-anddown movementin the supporting member, pivot pins extending at right angles to eachother and operative to connect the backing member movably to theslidable carrier so that said work backing member may tip in anup-and-down direction and also in a side-to-side direction, whereby alasted shoe may be tipped about one of said pins in directions towardand away from the tool about an axis extending in the direction of thelength of the lasted shoe, the shoe-backing member being also movable totip the forepart of the lasted shoe in an up-and-down direction byreason of the sliding movement of the carrier in an up-and-downdirection in conjunction with a tipping movement of the work backingmember about another of said pins, and means for supporting theshoe-backing member for movement bodily with respect to said tool tosubject successive portions of the shoe bottom to treatment by the tool.

16. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a work-treating tool, a padhaving a concave surface for engaging the convexly curved surface of theforepart of a lasted shoe, a rocking member for supporting said pad inmovements toward and from a work-treating tool, a carrier for said padslidably movable in an up-and-down direc tion in said rocking member, apivot pin supporting said rocking member for side-to-side movements indirections substantially at right angles to the said movement of therocking member in a direction toward and from the tool, whereby a lastedshoe backed by said pad may be moved bodily with respect to theoperating tool, and pivotal connections between the pad and the slidablecarrier arranged to permit a rocking movement of the pad about a nearlyvertical axis whereby the lasted shoe may not only be moved bodily withrespect to the tool but also rocked about an axis in a vertical planepassing transversely through said lasted shoe to present difierentportions of the convexly curved bottom surface of the shoe for treatmentby said tool.

1'7. In a machine for operating upon shoes, a tool, a shoe-backingmember movable to press a shoe against the tool, a supporting membermounted to move the back member toward and away from said tool and tohold it yieldingly toward the tool, a carrier for the shoe-backingmember slidably mounted for up-and-down movement in the supportingmember, and three pivot pins extending at right angles to each other andoperative to connect the shoe-backing member movably to the slidablecarrier so that said backing member may tip in an up-and-down directionand in a side-to-side direction about a substantially horizontal axisand also in a side-to-side direction about a substantially verticalaxis, whereby a lasted shoe may be tipped toward and away from the toolabout an axis extending in the direction of the length of the lastedshoe and also about a horizontal axis extending transversely of thelasted shoe to raise or lower the iorepart of the shoe, said lasted shoebeing also movable about a substantially vertical axis to presentsuccessive portions on the convexly curved bottom of the lasted shoe fortreatment by said tool.

CHARLES G. BROSTROM.

